Berlin To Host 21st Village Fair Weekend

BERILN – The 21st Berlin Village Fair will highlight what should be a busy weekend of events June 12-13 along Main Street.

Business people of the greater Berlin area want to issue the public a challenge – come vie for the crown in the town’s bathtub races on Saturday, June 13, as part of the annual Village Fair, which begins at 9 a.m. and runs till 4 p.m.

The races will start about 3 p.m. and one team will receive the bragging rights for a year of being the winner. Jessie Turner from the Shoe Box has won several of the races in years past and he claims that winning is all in the pusher. Bill Outten from the Step Above Gallery and Gifts claims it is in the making of the tub and having someone light to sit in the racer. He has won the last two years and says to all “bring it on.”

The Berlin Chamber has several tubs to rent for those people who would like to race but don’t have a tub. Call the chamber at 410-641-4775 or e-mail [email protected].

Also at the Village Fair will be an Arts and Crafts Fair with over 40 vendors with hand made items to delight. A Business Park has been added this year for local businesses to show off their wares.

Additionally, there will be a Berlin Idol Contest supported by the local schools and is always a lot of fun to watch. After the Idol Contest, several local musicians play in an open mic style.

Other live entertainment will be featured on the music stage, located at the center of town. Beginning the day with a celebration of the musical talent of the Worcester County local schools, there will be choir performances from the Stephen Decatur High School show chorus and barbershop quartet, a revival of Broadway Musical numbers from the Stephen Decatur Middle School choir, a reprisal of the Berlin Intermediate School’s award winning Kennedy Center performers and a choir performance and talent show by Buckingham Elementary School.  T

he noon hour will kick off an afternoon of magical music from the Eastern Shore beginning with Landers & Heinz featuring their own magical music displayed on guitar and fiddle.

At 1 p.m., Burger, also known as Charlie Flagiello, will host a two-hour show featuring Eastern Shore singer/songwriters performing their own, original music. Included in the lineup are Charlie Flagiello, Plain Slice Mike, Bryan Russo, The Real Carlton and The Knuckleheads, each with a different style providing a little something for every musical taste.

In addition, Charlene Upham and Steve Blumenauer will perform verbal appraisals of porcelain, pottery, jewelry, silver, paintings, prints, furniture, dolls, toys, coins and ephemera, from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. The cost is $ 7 per item or $20 for three items. They will be on the porch of the Atlantic Hotel.

The night before the Village Fair, the town’s 2nd Friday Art Stroll will take place, from 5-8. Participating galleries, shops, and restaurants will throw open their doors for a town wide open house featuring arts and crafts. There will be art receptions, demonstrations, exhibits, live music, wine tasting and more.

Here are some examples of what to expect in the galleries:

Victorian Charm will be featuring the art of Connie Gallerizzo, whose painting style echoes the bright colors and soft brushstrokes of the early Impressionist paintings.

A Step Above Gallery and Gifts will have Myrna McGrath. For this show, McGrath has done some small watercolors with the theme of "dancing" such as the Little Starfish.

The Water’s Edge will have Charlene Edman Abele, who paints in oils or acrylics and loves to dabble with scenes of the Eastern Shore. There will be a special opening ceremony planned from 6-9 p.m. Her work will be on display through June.

Patrick Henry will have his gallery open and will be on hand to answer questions and delight your eyes with his artwork.

The Worcester County Art Council will   feature paintings by two talented artists, Robert Knudsen and Epstein Gruber.

Liz Lind will be welcoming folks to her gallery which is just around the corner of Main Street near City Hall.

The Pink Box Bakery has Roberta Ward and her artwork, which incorporates various styles in acrylic of cubism to abstract.

J. J. Fish Gallery will be open with a guest artist and John Fisher making Jewelry.

The new Berlin Coffee House will have country, folk, and roots music from Raquel Orsini.

The Perfect Touch will have music by acoustic guitarist Mike Doyle.